Kiss of Venom

By Jennifer Estep

The New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series continues with a new e-novella—from the hero’s point of view! Owen Grayson is bound and determined to get Gin back...if her enemies don’t get her first.

When you have a history of dating an assassin, a night out on the town can turn deadly—fast. Owen Grayson is still wracked with guilt over the end of his love affair with Gin Blanco, and there aren’t enough gin and tonics in all of Ashland to ease his heartache. But when Gin happens to show up at the same nightclub, he isn’t the only one hoping to get her alone. Some shadowy figures will do anything to take down the Spider, Gin’s assassin alter ego, and Owen will do anything to protect her. This could be the way to win her back, or at least give her a night off from fighting for her life—if Owen can survive...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pocket Star
• Release date: Jul 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781476754413

Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.Jennifer is the author of the Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Elemental Assassin, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than forty books, along with numerous novellas and stories.In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at or follow her online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, and Goodreads. You can also sign up for her newsletter: https://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-jennifer/newsletter/Happy reading, everyone! ?

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To my mom, my grandma, and Andre—for your love, patience, and everything else that you’ve given to me over the years

To my papaw—you will be missed

To everyone who wanted an Owen story—this one is for you

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Acknowledgments

Sneak peek of Heart of Venom

About the Author

• 1 •

You’re an idiot.

I glanced over at my best friend, Phillip Kincaid. "Really? I’m an idiot? Because I’d say it takes one to know one."

Phillip snorted and took another sip of his Scotch. He studied me over the rim of his glass, his bright blue gaze calmly staring past the blank mask of my face to see the real man lurking underneath. Funny, how well he could still read me, even though we’d been estranged for years and had only recently reconnected. After a moment, he grinned and waggled his eyebrows at me.

I sighed, knowing that he’d keep grinning like a fool until I asked him the inevitable question. And why, exactly, am I an idiot?

Because we’ve been here an hour already, and you haven’t so much as made eye contact with a single woman. Phillip used his drink to gesture out at the scene before us. And there are plenty of them to choose from, Owen. Blondes, brunettes, even a few redheads. Humans, vampires, giants, dwarves, elementals. Whatever floats your boat.

Phillip was right. There were plenty of women inside Northern Aggression, Ashland’s most extravagant nightclub. We were sitting in a booth in the back, giving us a clear view of the rest of the club. Men and women of all shapes, sizes, and ages happily grooved to a rocking beat out on the dance floor, while others clustered two and three deep around the elemental Ice bar along the wall, slugging down drinks and already looking forward to the next round. Smoke spiraled up into the air as folks inhaled cigarettes, cigars, and other things that weren’t exactly legal. The thick gray clouds clung like a layer of fog to the red crushed-velvet drapes that covered the walls.

Northern Aggression was the sort of place where anything went, either back in the more private VIP rooms or out here in plain view. Some of the folks who weren’t dancing, drinking, or smoking were engaged in more . . . passionate pursuits. A couple kissed deeply at a table off to my right, their bodies melded together, their hands roaming over each other as though the rest of the world didn’t exist. Meanwhile, the booth behind me rocked back and forth in time to the athletic acrobatics of the couple there, although the thumping music mostly drowned out their hoarse cries of pleasure.

A particularly vigorous rocking of the booth made me sigh, lean forward, and take a final swig of my gin and tonic, finishing off the drink. Phillip had dragged me out to the club tonight to celebrate his recovery from being shot in the chest during a robbery gone wrong at the Briartop art museum a couple of weeks ago. Or maybe it was a robbery gone right, considering that Clementine Barker and most of her gang of giants had ended up dead in the end. But thinking about that night conjured up so many memories for me, especially of a beautiful woman in a blood-red dress—

Hi, sugar, a voice said loudly enough to be heard over the music.

Maybe it was the slightly mocking way that she drawled out sugar, but the sound of her voice made my head snap up, thinking that she was here tonight, hoping that she was—

But it wasn’t her. Instead, a pretty woman with tan skin, hazel eyes, and black hair that was spiked up almost like a mohawk stood in front of our booth. For a moment, I thought that she’d come over to talk to Phillip, since he’d been actively eyeing the ladies ever since we’d arrived, but then I realized that she was holding a round tray. The gold heart-and-arrow pendant that glimmered in the hollow of her throat marked her as more than just a waitress, though. The rune was Roslyn Phillips’s symbol for her luxe nightclub—and all the hookers who worked here.

Several men and woman wearing the same necklace circulated around the dance floor and through the crowds at the bar, their gold runes flashing like neon signs underneath the club’s black lights, letting everyone know that they were open for business. All of them were buff, beautiful, and baring a lot of skin, leaving little to the imagination. Most of them were vampires, and all of them would do whatever you wanted them to—for the right price.

The waitress cocked a hip to one side, her red-leather miniskirt riding up even higher on her toned thighs. Hi there. My name’s Sierra. Can I get you boys another round?

Phillip gave her a slow, syrupy smile. Sugar, you can get me just about anything that you like.

She giggled at that, having probably heard the same lame line from at least a dozen other men already tonight. She grinned at him, revealing a pair of small, pearl-white fangs. Phillip gave her a saucy wink, which made her giggle a bit more.

Then Sierra turned her seductive smile to me. What about you, handsome? See anything on the menu that you like? Anything at all? She drawled out the word anything, then licked her crimson lips, letting me know that she was on the menu too, as if that rune around her neck hadn’t already clued me in to that fact.

Phillip smirked and waggled his eyebrows at me again, but I shook my head.

Just another drink for me, please, I said, pushing my empty glass toward her.

She pouted a little, but she scooped up our glasses and sashayed away. Phillip leaned out of the booth and watched her

Reviews for Kiss of Venom

[rabidreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsI was excited to get a peek inside the mind of Owen Grayson and even though Kiss of Venom was short it most definitely was also sweet. Unlike many of Jennifer Estep’s loyal fans, I didn’t banish him from my herd of book boyfriend after his actions in Widow’s Web. What can I say? People (and characters) do stupid things for love!I like how in the opening chapter we first meet-up with Owen at Northern Aggression with Philip and he’s drinking… you guessed it! Gin and tonic. I knew right then and there that this novella was going to be Grayson’s chance to clear the air with readers before Heart of Venom officially hits the shelves. Anyway, while he’s busy feeling sorry for himself, Estep decides to kick him when he’s already down and in walks… the Spider. And oh, what an entrance! I loved seeing her through Owen’s eyes. I already worship Gin as an Urban Fantasy heroine but the author’s description from Grayson’s POV was beyond memorable.Between Owen’s thoughts in this short and his actions in the upcoming installment, I think he and Gin will be on the mend very soon. I did find that his wallowing got on my nerves after a while though. I’m so used to seeing his strong side that it came as a bit of a shock to see him so down on himself. But, of course, no Elemental Assassin story would be complete without at least one murder and Grayson seems to have picked up yet another of Blanco’s habits. He goes out clubbing with Philip and ends up killing 3 people! I’m sure he’d argue that he was “protecting” Gin. Yeah, like she needs any help in that department! Admit it Owen, you like being a bad boy.Kiss of Venom ties in nicely with this series and provides answers to a few nagging questions. It’s a quick read that no Elemental Assassin fan should miss.

[p. s · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

great read recommend

[margaraawr-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a short story and was told from Owen's point of view. It started with him and Philip having a night out at Northern Aggression (the name of the club). It's supposed to be for him to forget about Gin and mingle with other girls but.. Ha. Gin and Bria had the same thing in mind. They also went to Northern Aggression that night.

Hmm. Since Gin was known as the one who killed Mab, she was the target of many attacks. Owen found out an attack to her that was supposed to happen that night and they stopped it. Not enough to be forgiven though.

By the end, Owen realized something important. Time wasted is not something that you can bring back no matter how hard you try.

Owen. You fool. You should start your plans right now. I have high hopes for you. :)

[mlsimmons-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Owen's POV. We learn a lot about his feelings from the past few book. We also see more of Phillip Kincaid. It was nice to see his point of view, but I was a little bit turned off by the Owen pity party. Everything bad that happens isn't his fault. He needs to figure out that he is continuing to hurt her by acting this way.